Party Generation

Dar Williams

When he turned 34 but who's counting

He couldn't find anyone who wanted to party

So he walked around a playground with a bag of Mickey's Tallboys

And he heard the sound of laughter and he followed it for fifteen blocks

There was a house between Mavis and Water

They were out on the porch, they were inside playing quarters

And he said, "Don't you know the game Kazaam? It's a better game,

You point your elbow at someone and say somebody else's name

And it alternates whose turn it is and if you lose you drink."

They said "Man, you really make us think,

yeah you make us think and so:



Tonight we're gonna be the party

We will party all night long

We are the party generation

So have a seat, what's in the bag?

Party on."



Round about one or two it started winding down

And he knew what they needed -- they needed donuts

So they walked out to Krispy Kruller's All Nite Sugar Palace

It was there in the doorway he said, "Oh, well maybe not."

Inside there were six women talking

They were the most justified angry ex-girlfriends

And they swivelled around slowly like they saw something bad

Through the eyes in the back of their heads

Like he always knew they had

And they said, "What a coincidence," and "Hey, you're just the man,

We were saying that you did the best you could

You're fine, we understand and so--



Tonight we're gonna be the party

We will party all night long

We are the party generation

You were the best but we'll survive

Party on."



In the morning they sent him home with a designated driver

And he lay down and thought about the whole night

And he looked up at the photo that he bought at a junk shop

It was only fifty cents but he framed it and everything

It was the kind of party that you hope never ends

The lucky party boy surrounded by his friends

And they were all in pointed hats

Caught in a rebel birthday shout

And he was